Residents, panelist: Milwaukee's next police chief should be authentic, transparent and willing to work with others

Panelists prepare to discuss what qualities are important for Milwaukee's next police chief at a Town Hall at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society on Jan. 31, 2018. They are (from left) Michael Crivello, president of the Milwaukee Police Association; Alexander Ayala, a Milwaukee police detective and president of the Milwaukee chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers Association; Regina Howard, a retired Milwaukee police captain and member of the League of Martin; Marisabel Cabrera, a Milwaukee Fire and Police commissioner; and Jamaal Smith, racial justice community engagement manager for the YWCA Southeast Wisconsin.(Photo: Ashley Luthern / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Someone who is authentic, transparent and willing to work and listen to others.

That was the overwhelming consensus at a Town Hall to discuss what qualities Milwaukee’s next police chief should have.

More than 100 people took part in the event Wednesday at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society.

The next police chief should be someone “trusted by community and internal staff,” said Regina Howard, a retired Milwaukee police captain and member of the League of Martin, an association that promotes the hiring and promotion of minority officers.

“A police chief that listens and listens actively” and allows their members to “lead up” without getting defensive is important, Howard added.

“We get fired, we get removed from our assignments and yet we still stand and we still fight,” she said later.

Milwaukee’s next chief should lead by actions, said Jamaal Smith, racial justice community engagement manager for the YWCA Southeast Wisconsin.

“Whoever that leader is we’re pushing for that authentic transparency,” Smith said. “And that means don’t just tell us that you’re going to hold people accountable, show us how you’ll do that, show us how you’ll be present.”

At one point, discussion turned to a draft federal review of the Police Department, started by the U.S. Department of Justice, which contained 55 findings and 110 recommendations related to police-community relations, traffic stops, officer discipline and other areas.

Alexander Ayala, a detective and president of the Milwaukee chapter of National Latino Peace Officers Association, says the new chief should use the draft as a “framework.”

Ayala highlighted draft report findings of a de-facto quota of two traffic stops per shift and said he personally was pressured to make more traffic stops at certain work locations.

“Sometimes those rules or regulations or quotas can really affect the relationship that we build through the community,” Ayala said.

Michael Crivello, president of the Milwaukee Police Association, said the de-facto quota system had been a longtime concern of the union.

Marisabel Cabrera, a Milwaukee Fire and Police commissioner, said she believed it’s important for the next chief to have the confidence and trust of the community and the rank-and-file.

She also called for the next chief to respect the role of the commission, a civilian oversight board that by state law oversees hiring, discipline, policies and citizen complaints, among other duties.

“We want somebody who is going to recognize that authority and not resent it,” she said.

Police Department officials declined to comment early Thursday.

After the discussion, residents, panelists and department members milled about talking.

“We need the police, the police need us, and we all need to come together to some agreement,” Mavis Cosey said. “Because at the end of the day, everybody wants to go home at night.”

What comes next:

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission expects to name several finalists for interim police chief on Thursday.

Residents will have the chance to question those finalists during a moderated public forum from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at City Hall.

The Fire and Police Commission will appoint the interim chief Feb. 15.